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Modular Powered Orthoses for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

This study is testing a new type of modular, powered brace (orthosis) for your lower leg. These braces are designed to help you move more easily and reduce pain, especially if you have knee osteoarthritis (OA). The researchers believe these motorized devices can help by reducing the strain on your knee joint during daily activities. They will measure changes in your muscle effort, joint loads, and pain levels over about two months to see how well the braces work. You might be able to join if you are between 18 and 85 years old, weigh less than 300 lbs, and have a medical diagnosis of knee OA. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 65 participants. It is testing a device, the modular powered orthosis.
What's involved
Participants will be evaluated at the beginning of the study and throughout its completion, which is expected to average two months.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed through study completion, an average of 2 months.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07673328

Enhancing Voluntary Motion in Broad Patient Populations With Modular Powered Orthoses Renewal

Recruiting
NAAges 18–85Interventional
University of Michigan
~65 participants
Updated 2026-06-29 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Modular powered orthosis

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Muscle effort
Measured over Baseline and through study completion, an average of 2 months
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Lower-limb Orthoses
Osteoarthritic Knee Pain
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee

Explore related trials

Osteoarthritic Knee PainOsteoarthritis of knee

NCT07673328

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Rehab Lab

    Ann Arbor, Michiganstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Who to contact

Emily Klinkman
[email protected]
734-763-1156
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Aged between 18 to 65 years
Weigh less than 300 lbs (due to challenges in bracing heavier participants)
BMI \< 40 (due to challenges in bracing heavier participants)
Aged between 30 to 85 years
Medical diagnosis of patellofemoral and tibiofemoral osteoarthritis
Patient reported pain ≥ 4 out of 10 during activities of daily life (to avoid floor effects)
Weigh less than 300 lbs (due to challenges in bracing heavier participants)
BMI \< 40 (due to challenges in bracing heavier participants)
Ability to walk 6 minutes without assistance from a person (may use walking aid)
Ability to ascend/descend ramps and stairs with or without the use of handrails

Exclusion

Pregnant (self-report)
Any significant neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorder that would interfere with the study
Unable to walk for 20 minutes
History of any cardiovascular, vestibular, or visual diseases and/or impairments that may interfere with the study
Cognitive deficits that would impair their ability to give informed consent or impair their ability to follow simple instructions during the experiments. Cognitive deficits will be determined by a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of \<22.
Adults with a known allergy to medical grade tape
Pregnant (self-report)
Any recent lower-extremity fracture (within 6 months)
Significant limitation on knee joint range of motion
Significant neurological (e.g., stroke) or cardiovascular disorder that may affect the ability to walk
Advised by a physician not to walk or exercise
Uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes
Use of opioids
Cognitive deficits or visual impairment that would impair their ability to give informed consent or impair their ability to follow simple instructions during the experiments. Cognitive deficits will be determined by a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of \<22.
Adults with a known allergy to medical grade tape

What this trial measures

  • Muscle effortBaseline and through study completion, an average of 2 months

    Muscle activity will be measured by surface EMG electrodes, and EMG sites will be averaged by flexors and extensors. For each condition (no orthosis vs. powered orthosis), signals will be normalized by their peaks during the no-orthosis condition, and then averaged over cycle, repetitions, and tasks to obtain overall muscle effort (focusing on knee extension for the powered knee orthosis, hip extension and flexion for the powered hip orthosis, and ankle plantarflexion for the powered ankle orthosis).

  • Joint moment loadBaseline and through study completion, an average of 2 months

    Biological torques will be estimated by subtracting the assistive torques from the total joint torques computed via inverse dynamics (using OpenSim). Biological torques will be divided into flexion and extension. For each condition (no orthosis vs. powered orthosis), signals will be normalized by their peaks during the no-orthosis condition, and then averaged over cycle, repetitions, and tasks to obtain overall joint moment load (focusing on knee extension for the powered knee orthosis, hip extension and flexion for the powered hip orthosis, and ankle plantarflexion for the powered ankle orthosis).

  • Pain scoreBaseline and through study completion, an average of 2 months

    The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) will be used to assess perceived pain for a multi-activity circuit test and isolated activity tests. The KOOS evaluates both short-term and long-term consequences of knee injury. It holds 42 items in 5 separately scored subscales; Pain, other Symptoms, Function in daily living (ADL), Function in Sport and Recreation (Sport/Rec), and knee-related Quality of Life (QOL). It is an extension of the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index. A Likert scale is used and all items have five possible answer options scored from 0 (No Problems) to 4 (Extreme Problems) and each of the five scores is calculated as the sum of the items included. Scores are transformed to a 0-100 scale, with zero representing extreme knee problems and 100 representing no knee problems as common in orthopaedic assessment scales and generic measures.